Ken Bacon
Ken Bacon
everybody security vacuum
Everybody agrees that we don't want a security vacuum in Kosovo.
citizen consummate military operations performed performing proud skill
They've done this with consummate skill and professionalism and success. I don't think there's a citizen who isn't proud of the way our military has performed in these operations and is performing every day
army army-and-navy five kosovo liberation seven succeeded wipe
The Yugoslavs thought that they could wipe out the Kosovo Liberation Army in five to seven days. They have not succeeded in doing that,
affairs army army-and-navy assets civil exist likely
Also, some of the Army assets going into Macedonia and Albania likely would come from the reserves. There are specialties such as civil affairs that only exist in the reserves.
believe both countries increase reduce steps took
We believe that both countries would be better off if they took steps to reduce tensions, not increase tensions.
agreement deployed force forces help larger peace pull quickly ready refugees
We're going to need a larger KFOR, and we want it deployed to Macedonia as quickly as possible. Should there be a peace agreement quickly, as we hope, we need a force that's ready to go in and help the refugees get back as the Serb forces pull out.
action air almost decision destroying plane point reaching reasonable
We would take almost any reasonable action before reaching a point of having to make a decision about destroying an American plane over American air space.
bigger numbers terms
I just don't think we know at this stage, but we have to think in terms of big numbers -- bigger than 15,000 certainly.
cnn energetic facts hope mission people true understand
I hope that CNN is ... energetic in making this retraction and clarification so that people do understand what the true facts of this mission were.
applies convention geneva periods
By international law, the Geneva Convention applies to all periods of hostilities.
area government impact pressure public
But I think this is an area where pressure from the public is having an impact on what our government is doing.
best enemy hear information level pilots saying trying
But I am very much aware, as are all the pilots and all the operators, that the enemy is trying to its level best to hear what we're saying to glean information from it.
agreed atlantic case forces local north status treaty
In the past, under the North Atlantic Treaty Organization status of forces agreement, we have not agreed to local jurisdiction. But, as I said, this case is still under review.
army army-and-navy job obviously performs terms
In terms of NEO (non-combatant evacuation operations), obviously if the Indonesian army performs its job then there shouldn't be need for an evacuation,